Jesus-Centered Christmas Books for Kids

This is a guest post from one of my favorite and longest long-time friends, Jessie from Vanderbilt Wife! She and I met via blogs, bonded over babies and books and are now certifiable in-real-life-friends. You will love her!

Last winter, I put together a list of 25 Jesus-Centered Christmas Books. I had seen on Pinterest the idea of wrapping up a book for each day in December and letting the kids unwrap them – kind of like a book Advent calendar. But I had never seen a list of books that left out the Santa aspect. So I created it myself.

Since then, people have thrown several more books my way that I am itching to buy for this year! I’m afraid that might make our Christmas book collection too extravagant … but this former English major loves nothing more than cuddling up with kids and reading to them about Jesus. Especially when it’s chilly outside and the Christmas tree is up!

Here are 10 more books you can add to the original 25 as you look for wonderful, Jesus-centered books to teach your children about the true Christmas.

One Wintry Night by Ruth Bell Graham – Although it is lengthier and probably for children older than my own (suggested grade level 4-6), I’ve heard One Wintry Night recommended again and again. If you just want to do one book, you could have your children unwrap this on December 1 and read one chapter a night. (Or while you’re waiting for your Truth in the Tinsel crafts to dry!)

The Jesse Tree by Geraldine McCaughren – Covering stories from the Garden of Eden to Jesus’ birth, the Jesse Tree-model of following the lineage of Christ is tested by time and yet newly beautiful each year. Another book to read one story a day for older children.

Santa’s Favorite Story by Hisako Aoki – I’m intrigued by this one, that has Santa explaining that Christmas isn’t about him at all. Chances are, your child will be exposed to Santa whether you want him to or not. And maybe you don’t mind the Santa element. Either way, I like the idea behind this lovely book with gorgeous watercolor illustrations by Ivan Gantschev.

The Gift of the Christmas Cookie by Dandi Daley Mackall – Amanda introduced me to Mackall and I can’t get enough of her books now! During the Depression, Jack finds out there are people needier than him as he learns about the legend behind giving Christmas cookies.

Mortimer’s Christmas Manger by Karma Wilson – Wilson, author of the Bear books (Bear Snores On, Bear Wants More, etc.) introduces her readers to Mortimer Mouse in this picture book. Mortimer tries to take up residence in his family’s Nativity scene and ends up hearing the story of the Nativity.

One Baby Jesus by Patricia A. Pingry – A sweet revision of the 12 Days of Christmas for toddlers and older.

A Christmas Story by Brian Wildsmith – The story of a little girl trying to reunite her donkey with its mother is meshed with the Nativity story, alongside beautiful, intricate, painted illustrations. This version even comes with a little “paper doll” type Nativity for you to use!

Who Is Coming to Our House? by Joseph Slate – Another good one for toddlers and preschoolers, this board book shows the animals preparing the stable for their special visitors.

The Perfect Christmas Pageant by Joyce Meyer – New this year from bestselling author Joyce Meyer, this volume in the “Everyday Zoo” series shows the animals putting on a Christmas pageant. Hippo is in charge and she wants to make the pageant her gift to Jesus … but everything seems to be going wrong.

A Star for Jesus by Crystal Bowman – A simple board book telling the story of Epiphany. Portrays the Wise Men visiting Jesus as a toddler in a home in Bethlehem, which most believe to be the accurate tale. A nice addition to your Christmas book library.

Do you have a favorite Jesus-centered Christmas book for your kids?

Jessie Weaver is a freelance writer, blogger, and stay-at-home mom of three kids 5 and under in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She’s a mess, and she’d like you to admit that you’re a mess, too, so you can cry about it together and then eat cookies. She blogs regularly at Vanderbilt Wife and for ParentLife Online. (Find her on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest.)

We also love The Little Donkey by Bernadette Watts and the Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado. A great family devotional is Looking Forward to the Nativity by Jon Farrar. And for older children, we love Patricia St John books, and there is a Christmas book with excerpts from her books. And Love Came Down Reflections on the Christmas Story by Corrie Ten Boom. Thanks for the list – it’s great to have a special Christmas collection of new and old favourites to read through advent! Rachel

One of our favorites is “A Christmas Prayer” by Amy Parker. This is a board book, and would be most appropriate for young kids – ours are 3 and 5 and they still love it. The story is a little child thanking God for the Christmas gifts He’s given to us in the Christmas story itself — Gabriel, Joseph, the donkey, the manger, the shepherds, the star, and finally Jesus. That page reads: “Thank you God, for Jesus, Your one and only Son. A Savior sent to save the world! Yes, Christmas had begun! Thank you, God, for Jesus, Your perfect Christmas gift.”